Senior External Communications Manager

Are you a strategic communications leader with a passion for delivering impactful, audience-focused campaigns that make a real difference to people’s lives? Social Security Scotland is looking for an experienced Senior External Communications Manager to lead the planning and delivery of high-profile communications and engagement activity that increases awareness of Scotland’s benefits and helps eligible people access the financial support they are entitled to. Working at the heart of a fast-paced Communications, Marketing and Engagement team, you will provide expert strategic advice, shape integrated communications plans informed by audience insight and data, and lead a multidisciplinary team of communications professionals to deliver measurable outcomes. This is an exciting opportunity to influence national communications activity across media relations, marketing, digital and social media, partnerships and events. You will work closely with senior leaders, ministers and stakeholders, ensuring communications activity is aligned to organisational priorities and delivers maximum impact for Scotland’s diverse communities. If you thrive on leading teams, building strong relationships and creating innovative communications strategies that support public service delivery, we would like to hear from you. Responsibilities Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary communications team to develop and deliver integrated communication, marketing and engagement plans that increase awareness of Social Security Scotland benefits, informed by audience insight, evidence and evaluation. Provide strategic advice on the most effective messages, channels and approaches to engage and influence target audiences, using a mix of media, marketing, digital and social media, partnerships and events activity. Deliver proactive and reactive media relations activity, including writing press releases, securing feature and editorial opportunities, supporting Ministerial visits, handling media enquiries and participating in the on-call media rota. Oversee the briefing, development and delivery of creative campaign assets and paid media activity to support communications objectives and maximise impact. Lead the development and delivery of partnership and events strategies for key audiences, supporting the team to build and maintain effective relationships with partners and stakeholders. Provide expert communications advice and support to senior leaders and colleagues, demonstrating strategic leadership within a specialist communications discipline and contributing to wider organisational priorities. Work collaboratively with colleagues across communications, marketing, engagement, internal communications, design and corporate communications functions to deliver a coordinated, audience-focused and integrated approach across multiple platforms and channels. Success Profiles We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed: Experience: Proven experience in developing and delivering integrated communications, marketing and engagement strategies that achieve measurable outcomes and support organisational priorities. Experience leading multi-disciplinary communications teams and providing trusted strategic advice to senior leaders, ministers and key stakeholders. Proven experience managing proactive and reactive media activity, including press relations, issues management, crisis communications and high-profile public affairs. Demonstrable success using audience insight and data to shape communications, while building effective partnerships and delivering engagement activity that reaches diverse audiences. Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing (Level 3) Seeing the Big Picture (Level 3) Delivering at Pace (Level 3) Working Together (Level 3) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here . Technical / Professional Skills: You will demonstrate the following skills within the Communications Competencies Framework : Insight Ideas Implementation Impact How to Apply Apply online, providing a CV and a Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words). Your CV and Supporting Statement should clearly demonstrate how you meet the Experience, Technical Skills and Behaviours required for the role as outlined in the Success Profile above. Be sure to provide specific examples of work that you’ve done that showcase your relevant experience Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV and supporting statement on the first Experience criteria. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed. Candidates who are successful at sift stage will be invited to attend an Interview and Assessment. The interview will further assess the Experience, Technical Skills and Behaviours listed in the job advert and the technical assessment will evaluate the technical skills relevant to the role. Candidates who pass the sift and are invited to the Interview and Assessment stage will receive full details of the skills to be assessed and the assessment methods to be used. Please note; we aim to provide feedback on request. However, if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide specific feedback on your application. We will provide feedback on request to candidates who attend an interview/assessment. Expected Timeline (subject to change) Sift - week commencing 31st August 2026 Interview – week commencing 21st September 2026 Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow Reserve List In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months. About Us Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service , we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules . Pay Supplement This is a specialist post and carries the Communications Pay Supplement of £3,000 per annum pro rata, rising to £5,000 on completion of 12 months’ successful service. This is paid in addition to salary. Pay supplements are temporary and subject to regular reviews. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style   where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be either Glasgow or Dundee.  If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Equality Statement Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion, and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected] . Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further Information This role is only available to existing permanent civil servants who have successfully completed their probation period within Social Security Scotland or the broader Scottish Government. Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade. If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via [email protected] . Apply before 23:55 on Monday 31st August. Contact Name - Pauline Kelly Contact e-Mail - [email protected]